Axially preloaded sealing element

ABSTRACT

A valve arrangement including a sealing element is provided. The valve arrangement includes a housing having a port. A rotary valve body includes an opening, and the rotary valve body is arranged within the housing. The port of the housing and the opening of the rotary valve body are alignable with each other via rotation of the rotary valve body in the housing. A sealing element is arranged within the port. The sealing element includes a seal body having a first axial end engaged against the rotary valve body and a second axial end including a resilient axially compressible portion that engages against a seat in the housing. The resilient axially compressible portion of the sealing element preloads the sealing element axially against the rotary valve body.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/700,561, filed Apr. 30, 2015, which is incorporated byreference as if fully set forth.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates a sealing element, and is moreparticularly related to an axially preloaded sealing element forcontacting a rotary valve body.

BACKGROUND

Sealing elements are used in a variety of applications, includingthermal management modules with coolant control valves. Typically, thesealing element in a coolant control valve is arranged between a portformed in a housing and a rotary valve body within the housing. Therotary valve body is connected a rotating shaft that rotates the rotaryvalve body to control the amount of fluid that can pass into or out ofthe housing via the rotary valve body. In known valve arrangements, aspring is provided between the housing and the sealing element thatcontacts the rotary valve body to preload the sealing element axiallyagainst the rotary valve body. These known sealing assemblies requiremultiple components to ensure that the sealing element maintains sealingcontact with the rotary valve body to prevent leakage and ensurereliable operation.

It would be desirable to provide a simplified sealing element thatreduces assembly time and the number of components while providing areliable axial preload against the rotary valve body.

SUMMARY

An improved sealing element including an integrally formed protrusionthat provides an axial preload which can be used, for example, to pressthe sealing element against a rotary valve body is provided. In oneembodiment, a valve arrangement including a housing with a port isprovided. The rotary valve body includes an opening and is arrangedwithin the housing. The port of the housing and the opening of therotary valve body are alignable with each other via rotation of therotary valve body in the housing. A sealing element is arranged withinthe port. The sealing element includes a seal body having a first axialend sealingly engaged against the rotary valve body and a second axialend including a resilient axially compressible portion that engagesagainst a seat in the housing or a fitting arranged in the housing,preferably in or around the port. The resilient axially compressibleportion of the sealing element preloads the sealing element axiallyagainst the rotary valve body and may also seal against the housing orfitting around or in the port.

In another embodiment, a valve arrangement including a housing having aport with a circumferential shoulder arranged therein is provided. Arotary valve body which includes an opening is arranged within thehousing. The port of the housing and the opening of the rotary valvebody are alignable with each other via rotation of the rotary valve bodyin the housing. A sealing element is arranged within the port. Thesealing element includes a seal body having a first axial end sealinglyengaged against the rotary valve body and a second axial end including aresilient axially compressible portion that engages a surface of thecircumferential shoulder in the port. The resilient axially compressibleportion of the sealing element preloads the sealing element axiallyagainst the rotary valve body and may also seal against a wall of thehousing around or in the port.

Additional embodiments are described below and in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing Summary and the following detailed description will bebetter understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings,which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention. In thedrawings:

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of a valve arrangementincluding a sealing element according to a first embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of a valve arrangementincluding a sealing element according to a second embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of a valve arrangementincluding a sealing element according to a third embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 3A shows a perspective view of the sealing element of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of a valve arrangementincluding a sealing element according to a fourth embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of a valve arrangementincluding a sealing element according to a fifth embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of a valve arrangementincluding a sealing element according to a sixth embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of a valve arrangementincluding a sealing element according to a seventh embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of a valve arrangementincluding a sealing element according to an eighth embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenienceonly and is not limiting. The words “front,” “rear,” “upper,” and“lower” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made.The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and awayfrom the parts referenced in the drawings. A reference to a list ofitems that are cited as “at least one of a, b, or c” (where a, b, and crepresent the items being listed) means any single one of the items a,b, or c, or combinations thereof. The terminology includes the wordsspecifically noted above, derivatives thereof and words of similarimport.

As shown in FIGS. 1-5, valve arrangements 1 a-1 h each including anaxially preloaded sealing element 2 a-2 h are provided. As shown inFIGS. 1-4, the valve arrangements 1 a-1 d, 1 f-1 h each include ahousing 4 a-4 d, 4 f-4 h with a fitting 6 a-6 d, 6 f-6 h arranged withina port 8 a-8 d, 8 f-8 h of the housing 4 a-4 d, 4 f-4 h. The fitting 6a-6 d, 6 f-6 h is optional, and not included in the embodiment of FIG.5. As shown in FIGS. 1-8, the valve arrangements 1 a-h each include arotary valve body 10 a-10 h, respectively including an opening 12. FIG.1 shows the opening 12 of the rotatory valve body 10 a. The rotary valvebodies 10 a-10 h are arranged within the respective housing 4 a-4 h, andthe port 8 a-8 h of the housing 4 a-4 h and the opening 12 of the rotaryvalve body 10 a-10 h are alignable with each other via rotation of therotary valve body 10 a-10 h in the respective housing 4 a-4 h. Fluid,e.g. coolant, is provided from the port 8 a-8 h to or from the housing 4a-4 h via the opening 12 of the rotary valve body 10 a-10 h based on therotational position of the rotary valve body 10 a-10 h. FIG. 1 shows theopen position of the rotary valve body 10 a. FIGS. 2-5 show the rotaryvalve body 10 b-10 h in a closed position. The rotary valve body 10 a-10h is rotated via a shaft, which is not illustrated in the Figures.

As shown in FIGS. 1-8, the sealing elements 2 a-2 h are arranged withinthe port 8 a-8 h of the respective housing 4 a-4 h. The sealing elements2 a-2 h are preferably formed from an elastomeric material. Preferably,the sealing elements 2 a-2 h are formed from a crystalline orsemi-crystalline resin, but other materials could be used. In oneembodiment, the sealing elements 2 a-2 h are formed from a polymericmaterial. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that thematerial of the sealing elements 2 a-2 h can vary, depending on theparticular application of the valve arrangement. The sealing elements 2a-2 h include a seal body 14 a-14 h having a first axial end 16 a-16 hengaged against the rotary valve body 10 a-10 h and a second axial end18 a-18 h including a resilient axially compressible portion 19 a-19 h.The resilient axially compressible portions 19 a-19 d, 19 f-19 h engageagainst a respective seat 3 a-3 d, 3 f-3 h in the housings 4 a-4 d, 4f-4 h. The resilient axially compressible portion 19 a-19 h preferablyincludes an at least partially radially extending protrusion 20 a-20 h.As shown in FIGS. 1-8, the at least partially radially extendingprotrusion 20 a-20 h is integrally formed with the respective sealingelement 2 a-2 h. The sealing elements 2 a-2 h are illustrated in anon-deflected position for clarity, and the sealing lip(s) wouldresiliently compress against the mating surface(s) shown uponinstallation. As shown in FIG. 1, in one embodiment the sealing element2 a includes a radially outwardly extending protrusion 20 a. As shown inFIG. 2, in another embodiment the sealing element 2 b includes aradially inwardly extending protrusion 20 b.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-4 and 6-8, the at least partiallyradially extending protrusion 20 a-20 d, 20 f-20 h engage against therespective fitting 6 a-6 d, 6 f-6 h. Although the at least partiallyradially extending protrusion 20 a-20 d, 20 f-20 h are shown engaging anaxial end surface of the fitting 6 a-6 d, 6 f-6 h, one of ordinary skillin the art will recognize that the at least partially radially extendingprotrusion 20 a-20 d, 20 f-20 h could also engage a radial surface ofthe fitting 6 a-6 d, 6 f-6 h. The at least partially radially extendingprotrusion 20 a-20 h of the respective sealing elements 2 a-2 h preloadthe sealing elements 2 a-2 h axially against the respective rotary valvebodies 10 a-10 h in a direction of an axis of the port 8 a-8 h. Theaxial preload provided by the at least partially radially extendingprotrusion 20 a-20 h of each sealing element 2 a-2 h reduces the needfor an additional biasing component, such as a Belleville spring or wavespring, to provide the preload between the sealing element 2 a-2 h andthe rotatory valve body 10 a-10 h.

One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the shape of sealbody 14 a-14 h of the sealing element 2 a-2 h can be varied dependingthe space requirements for a particular application. As shown in FIG. 2,in one embodiment, a surface coating 17, 17′ is applied to at least oneend surface of the first axial end 16 a-16 h or the second axial end 18a-18 h. In one embodiment, the surface coating 17, 17′ material has ahigher elasticity than the seal body 14 a-14 h of the sealing element 2a-2 h. The increased elasticity of the surface coating 17, 17′ providesan improved ability to seal the first axial end 16 a-16 h and/or thesecond axial end 18 a-18 h against a respective surface. In oneembodiment, only the second axial end 18 a-18 h includes the surfacecoating 17′. In one embodiment, the surface coating 17, 17′ is formedfrom rubber. In another embodiment, the surface coating material 17 isselected so as to reduce friction between the axial end 16 a-16 h andthe rotary valve body 10 a-10 h.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A, the third embodiment of the sealing element2 c includes a radially outwardly extending protrusion 20 c and a lip 24c. In the third embodiment, the lip 24 c is located radially inwardlyfrom the radially outwardly extending protrusion 20 c. The lip 24 cengages against a radially outer surface 30 of a shoulder 36 of thefitting 6 c. In this embodiment, engagement of the lip 24 c against theshoulder 36 of the fitting 6 c provides a secondary seal to the fittingin addition to the primary seal provided by the at least partiallyradially extending protrusion 20 c of the sealing element 2 c that isaxially preloaded. One skilled in the art will recognize that the lip 24can be arranged such that it engages with a different radially outwardsurface of the fitting 6 c or some planar surface of fitting 6 cparallel to the shoulder 36.

As shown in FIG. 4, the fourth embodiment of the sealing element 2 dincludes a radially inwardly extending protrusion 20 d and includes alip 24 d. In this embodiment, the lip 24 d is located radially outwardlyfrom the radially inwardly extending protrusion 20 d. The lip 24 dengages against a radially inner surface 32 of the port 8. The lip 24 dprovides a secondary seal in addition to the primary seal provided bythe at least partially radially extending protrusion 20 d of the sealingelement 2 d that is axially preloaded. One of skill in the art willrecognize that the radially inner surface 32 could be relocated to alocation on the fitting 6 d, or that the lip 24 d can engage with someplanar surface of the housing 4 d or fitting 6 d that is perpendicularto the axis of the port 8 d.

In the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the housing 4 e includes a port8 e with a circumferential shoulder 9 arranged therein. Unlike theembodiments shown in FIGS. 1-4 and 6-8, the fifth embodiment does notinclude a fitting. Here, an at least partially radially extendingprotrusion 20 e on the second axial end 18 e of the sealing element 2 eengages against a surface of the shoulder 9 in the port 8 e. In thefifth embodiment, the at least partially radially extending protrusion20 e extends radially inwardly and engages against an axial end surface38 of the shoulder 9. The sealing element 2 e includes a lip 24 e thatengages against a radially inner surface 40 of the shoulder 9. One ofordinary skill in the art will recognize that alternative arrangementsof the fifth sealing element 2 e could be used, such as a sealingelement that does not include the lip 24 e, a sealing element thatincludes a radially outwardly extending protrusion, or combinationsthereof. Any variations of the sealing elements 2 a-2 d shown in FIGS.1-4 and 6-8 could also be used in connection with the housing 4 econfiguration shown in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 6, a sixth embodiment of the sealing element 2 h isprovided. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the second axial end 18 h of thesealing element 2 h includes a sealing lip 24 h, and the sealing lip 24h engages a radially inner surface 44 of the fitting 6 h. As shown inFIG. 7, a seventh embodiment of the sealing element 2 f is provided. Inthe embodiment of FIG. 7, the second axial end 18 f of the sealingelement 2 f includes a sealing lip 24 f, and the sealing lip 24 fengages a planar surface 46 of the housing 4 f that is perpendicular tothe axis of the port 8 f. As shown in FIG. 8, an eighth embodiment ofthe sealing element 2 g is provided. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, thesecond axial end 18 g of the sealing element 2 g includes a sealing lip24 g, and the sealing lip 24 g engages a planar surface 48 of thefitting 6 g that is perpendicular to the axis of the port 8 g.

Having thus described the presently preferred embodiments in detail, itis to be appreciated and will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat many physical changes, only a few of which are exemplified in thedetailed description of the invention, could be made without alteringthe inventive concepts and principles embodied therein. It is also to beappreciated that numerous embodiments incorporating only part of thepreferred embodiment are possible which do not alter, with respect tothose parts, the inventive concepts and principles embodied therein. Thepresent embodiment and optional configurations are therefore to beconsidered in all respects as exemplary and/or illustrative and notrestrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appendedclaims rather than by the foregoing description, and all alternateembodiments and changes to this embodiment which come within the meaningand range of equivalency of said claims are therefore to be embracedtherein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A valve arrangement comprising: a housingincluding a port; a rotary valve body including an opening, the rotaryvalve body arranged within the housing, and the port of the housing andthe opening of the rotary valve body are alignable with each other viarotation of the rotary valve body in the housing; and a sealing elementarranged within the port, the sealing element including a seal bodyhaving a first axial end engaged against the rotary valve body and asecond axial end including a resilient axially compressible portion thatengages against a seat in the housing, and the resilient axiallycompressible portion of the sealing element preloads the sealing elementaxially against the rotary valve body and includes an at least partiallyradially extending protrusion that extends radially inwardly in the portand is arranged radially inward relative to the first axial end of theseal body and defines a first sealing lip.
 2. The valve arrangement ofclaim 1, wherein the seat is defined in or around the port.
 3. The valvearrangement of claim 1, wherein the seat is defined by a fitting in theport.
 4. The valve arrangement of claim 1, wherein the sealing elementis formed from an elastomeric material.
 5. The valve arrangement ofclaim 1, wherein the second axial end of the sealing element includes asecond sealing lip.
 6. The valve arrangement of claim 5, wherein thesecond sealing lip is arranged radially outwardly from the resilientaxially compressible portion.
 7. The valve arrangement of claim 5,wherein the second sealing lip engages against a radially inner surfaceof the port of the housing.